Brake-testing machine



July 1, 1930; g, z, HOPKINS El AL 1,769,432

BRAKE 'II'ESTING MACHINE Filed May 17 1928 vShets-Sheet 1 July l, 1930.

R. Z. HOPKINS El AL BRAKE TESTING MACHINE Filed May 17, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE +cu s 3 Shuts-Shoat 3 July 1; 1-930. R. z. HOPKINS ET AL BRAKE TESTING mean";

Filed Ma 17. 1928 IN'vEN tion embodied th :30 capable otother embo 40 stood from the follow Patented July 1, 1930 Y RALPH z. norxms, ALBER can, ASSIGNORS ro HUDSON moron c CORPORATION or nrcnrean Fries DAVEY, or nnrnorr, MICHI- NY; OFDETROIT, MICHIGAN, A

AR 69M BRAKE-TESTING r-mcn'nvn Application filed May 17,

This inventio mg vehicle brak n relates to devices for testes and particularly to devices for testing the brakes of automobiles having a brake on each of the four wheels. In otlicialbrake testing stations wherethe brakes of vehicles having diiierentcwheel bases are being tested it is necessary toadf just the testing machine repeatedly to accommodate these difierent' wheel bases. he same is true in the plants of automobile manufacturers producing more than one type of automobilebecause successive vehicles reach ing the test room may have a different wheel base. Heretofore, each adjustment has con- 1 sumed considerable time and has limited unduly the number of vehicle brakes tested in a given time. I l 1 i It is an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for a brake testing 7 devicewhereby the device may be readily and conveniently adjusted to accommodate vehicles of different Wheel bases.

Before explaining in detail the presentinvention, and the method or mode of operaerein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the 210 companying drawings,'since the invention is oiments and of being pra'cticedor carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein isi'orthe purpose of description and not of limita- 35 tion, and it'is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims heretoappended or the requirements of the prior art. 2 The invention will be more clearly'un'dermg descriptionin cone accompanying drawings junction with th in which:

ig. l'is a side elevation of a brake vice embodying the invention; Fig; 2 is a plan View of the same; Fig. :3 is a'dia ram showing the relation of the various partsof the device. V r i F ig. 3 is a side elevation partly in diagram and partly'broken away of onetype of 50 reversingswitch that may be used Wit th testing do I central depression 48 tl' reversing motorof usual 00 plied with suitable elect three feed lines 50,61 a

1928. serial 110,278,573.

ying the invention.

brake testing device e'mbod w of the magnetic Fig. 3" is a detail vie brake.

"Figs. 4 and 5 are sim setting of the clev A brake testin ilar views showing the ice for different wheel bases. g device embodying the invention maycomprise a pair of elevated parallel runways the rear portions '11 and 12' of which are mounted upon a suitable sta tionary supporting structure 13 and the front portions 151m 16 of which are likewise mounted upon a suitable stationary supportingst ucture'li. The intermediate portions l9 and 20 are supported upon movable car riages 21 and 22 respectively and are suitably'secured thereto as by braces23. Suitable rotors 18 and 24 are rotatably mounted in the rear supporting structure 13 and in carriages 21 and 22 forrotatably supporting the rear and front wheels respectively of a 'ehicle A. A suitable mechanism for driving the cz'irriages 21 and 22 may comprise threadedblocks 25 and 26mo'unted thereon to receive screw shafts-28 and 29 respectively. Shafts 28 and 29 are driven by a motor 30 the armatureshaft of which'is connected by a coupling 31 to a cross shaft 32 provided with bevelled gears 84 and 35 meshing with bevelled gears 36":ind 37 mounted'upon the shafts 2S and 29 respectively. A cam O'is suitably mounted upon" one of the travelling carriages and is adapted to control limit switches 4&3, 44; and which are mounted upon the stationary table llr Each of said switchesisprovided with an operating arm 4:2-1'1ormallyheld closed by the cam but caused to open by a spring 46 when reaching the Preferably, ovided with v ierein. the free end of each arm 42 1s pr a roll 49.

- The motor 30 which may be a three phase nstruction is suprical power from the nd 52. In accordance with the'invention the operation of the motor is controlled to move the carriages 21 and 22 a predetermined desired amount in either direction. w'l l ltll this in view separate circuits are provided for controlling the operation 'of-tlie motor in opposite directions. 200

f2 I 1,769,432 I The limit switch i3is inclu ed in a separate bers are yieldingly mounted on the blocks J circuitind'cated by heavy dot and dash lines 113 and 119 respectively and are adapted to in Fig. 3 andoperatively connected with the be moved with the armatures 110 and 111. i motor through leads 53 311M154, contactor 55, The armatures 110 and 111 are attracted to lead 56,.coil 57 and leadsgbS and 59 (seealso the cores a and b respectively of the coils 70 o I Fig; 3 The limit switch 45- is likewise op- 65 an d 57 when the latter are energized and eratively connected with the motor by a separe 'm echanically interlocked by suitable arate circuit indicated by heavy full linesYin mechanism comprising a lever 120 pivotally Fig.3fandcomprising leads 61 and 62, con-' mounted on the frame 112. lto'dslQl and122 tactor 63, lead 645E011 '6'5, 'lead 66 andleads i connect the ends of the lever with'th'elblocks 7 .58and 59. The leads 58 and 59 form a com- 113. and 119 respectively. It will be. apparent mon portion in each of these separate cirthat the interlock construction prevents closcuits. The limit switch 14 is interposed be ing-of the-contactors 1,5, 6 at the same time tween theleads- 58 and 59. Each of these as the co ntactors 7 8, 9. v circuits may be opened by thespringjtl when A magnetic brake 95 is provided upon the 80 the, arm .42 otthelimit switches 13', 44; or, 45 i I p shaft 32 and acts mechanicallywhendeendrops in center depression 48 of thecam 10. ergized to hold the shaft 32 against move- A drum switch? 0V is provided for suitably ment but is released when power is trans Y connecting thesecircuits with the feed line mitted through the leads 96 and 97 from'the 0 20 andjis arranged with suitable, contacts "71, feed line wire 51. A common type of mag I 7 2and73adapted tov connect the terminal 74: 'netic-bralre suitable for this purpose comcarrying thelead 75 from'the .feed line with prises (Fig. 3) a solenoid- 130 the core 0 of either the ter in'a176 to which the lead 61 is h which is p'ivotallyconnectedto one end of an connected, ,or lthe terminal 7,7 to Y which the arm 131', the other end of which is pivotally lead"53\.is connected The drum switch is connected to one end ofeach of thev brake 9- alsoprovided withcontacts ;7 8 and 79jeither shoes 132 and 133, the other ends of which i 0 which in 'connectterminals 80 and 81 are pivot-ally mounted at 134: on ,the frame a J carrying leads 82 and 83 from the 7 limit 1355: brake drum 136 is mounted on the, v switch #1 andthereby connect the; leads 58 shaft 32 adapted to cooperate with the shoes V and 59 vhenthe limit switch l4 is opened.- 132 and 133. Springs. 137 are provided 95 1 sjwitchfGOgis provided in'the lead75 from which normally act upon the shoes 132 and thei eedline, tothe drum switch. 133 to press the same into engagement with The feedl the drum. When the solenoid 130 is enerines 51 and 5 2: areprovided with a-set of make andbreak' contactors 4, 5 gized the arm 13-1 is actuated to move the V J and. 6 which are shunted by circuits 8 1, 85 shoes out of engagement, with the "drum in i and .86 containin another set of make and opposition to the springs 137'.

l 1 jvbreak contactorsfi, 8 and9. The circuits 84: The. shaft 32 may be provided with a and86ycon-nect lines 50 and 52. The contacbevelled gear 98 adaptedto mesh with a tors. 1, 5, and G-aslwellas the cont actor 63 'be'VelIedgear-QS) upon one end of a flexible econ rolled; by the coil 65'and the contac} shait 100, the other endoi' which is operative- 6 tors 7,;8and'9 as well as thecontactor are ly 'connected with a dial 101, for indicating controlled byt coil57.. 5 V V I V ,Theco' actor 4,5,6and63aswe1lastheQQ. The dial 101 and the switch may,

the distance of travel otthe carriages 21 and Sand .55 areof cornmon;.con if desired, be mounted together upon a single u illustrated in Fig. 3 'the'opr panel conveniently accessible totheoperator; crat ng l nism .for' the contactors com. The arrangement is suclrthat when the V prises and57 vingarmat'ures 110 drum switch is set as shown in Fig. 4 to and 1111 -associated-: therewith [respectively connect the line from the feed with the cir pivotally' mounted, on the ;f1-ame"112. One cuit containing the limitswitch 43,the motor niemberof-each'pair of contactors 6 and 9 is 30 willbe" rotated inone'direction, whereas 5 if the drum switch is set as shown inFig. -5=toconnectthel1ne,75 with the circuit containing the limitswitch 45 the motornwill mounted 'on .a blocltof insulation 113 and on armature l10 and 111respectively. ne m er of each pair otthe' other contactors 5. are lil zewise carried by the be rotatedin-the opposite direction." When armature, and .o f member of each pair V go f thecontaetorsg'l'iand8.;are1carried by the the carriages 21and22, the cam 40 mounted armature 111. 7, V other member o f each of; thereonis movedrelative to each of the limit the contactors 5y6 7 8 and 19is carriedon; switches 13, 14 and 15. hen the circuit yan insulated; block 1 tizon the "frame.112. i* through the limit switch 43 is closedthe car- The contactorsbiiand 55 compriseterminals friage moves rearwardly until the arm 42 12s 15' 1 15 (1116 1 16 forming part-of'the thereof reaches the depression 48 of the cam 1r thel1m1t1switches45 and 43re- 4:0 and is nitted to l P q n y V Sp d adapted to be connected h andbreak the circuit. 7

or i

V V open the switc thQSWl't-Ch members .117 In a similar manner whenthe c rcuit con Theseswitch meme eitherofthese circuits is energized to move 12c taining, the limit switcho .is energized the u. u

,it to its rearward carriages 21 and 22 move forwardly until the arm 42 thereof drops intodepression 48 of the cam 40 'to'open. the switch. i switch 44 limits themovement of the carriages 21 and 22 to an intermediate position,

the carriages continuing to travel in either direction until the arm 42 thereofreaches the groove48 and 1S permitted to drop and consequentl y open the switch.

lustrate the relative position of the limit switches and the cam when the carriages have been moved to therearward limit and the for- .ward limit respectively.

In each of Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the drum switch 70 is shown to con meet the circuits so as'to move the carriage to the positions above mentioned.

If the carriages are located at an intermedi ate position and it is desired to move the same to the forward limit, the setting of the drum switch 70 is changedfrom the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 5 thereby connecting the line '4' 5 with the circuit containing the limit switch 45. With the drum-switch in this position the circuit through the limit switch 43 is brokenand the-leads 58 and 59 are connected by contact 78. The switch 60 is then closed thereby permitting power to flow fromthe feed'through the drum switch, lead 61, limit'switch45, lead 62, c-ontactor 63, lead 64, coil 65, lead 66 and return through leads 58 and 59 to the feed line containing the motor. v

When this circuit is energized the contactor 55 is held open and the contactors 4, 5 and 6 are closed due to the influence of the" holding coil 65, and power is supplied from. the feed line to rotate the motor in thus move the carriage forwardlyuntil the arm 42 of the limit switch 45 drops into depression 48 of the cam 40 to open the circuit As soon as the circuit'is andstop the motor.

130 of the brake 95 is opened the solenoid deenergized thus to applythe brake and prevent furthermovement. oftheshaft 32. The cam 40 is thus brought to positions relative to the limit switches 43, 44 and 45 as'illustratedrin Fig. 5. Likewise, if the carriage is located at the intermediateposition and it is-desiredto move limit the-drum switch 70 is cl iangedi from the settingshown in F 3 to that shown inFig. 4, thereby, connecting the line 7 5 with the circuit containing the limit switch 43. When this has the switch. 60 has'been closed, power will be supplied from the feed through the line 75, the drum switch,'lead' 53, limit switch '43, lead 54, contactor 55, coil 57 and returned to the feed line through leads 58 and 59, the latter being connectedby thecontact 'ZQtinth-e drumswitch. When'thiscircu'it is energized The limit -switch 45 and thence forward limit past the intermediate position,

wheels ofthe vehicle, mechanism for shiftone direction and permitting the springs been done and the contactor 63:is held open and the contactors 7, 8 and 9 closed. I I

:If the carriages 21, 22am located at their rearward limit and itis desired to move them to an intermediate position the settingof the drum switch 70 is changed from that shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 3. The switch 60 is then closed and power is supplied through the line 75, switch .70, lead 61, limit through contactor 63, coil 65, and returned to the feed through leads 58, limit switch 44 and lead 59. The carriage will then move forwardly until the groove 48 in the cam 40 reaches the arm42 of the limit switch 44 and permits the latter'to be'moved bythe spring 46 and thus open the switch and break the circuit. If the carriages are, located at their rear limit and it is desired to move them to the '85 the setting of the drum switch 70 is changed fron'ithat shown in" Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5. V/ hen the drum switch is iii-this position the contact 78 connects the leads 58 and 59 thereby rendering thelimit switch 44 inoperative when the same passes the intermediate position. Likewise, if the carriages are locatedat the forward limitand it is. desired to move them to the rear limit, the drum switch setting'is changed from that shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig.4. Thus, the contactor 79 of thedrum switch connectsthe leads 58 and 59' and renders the limit switch 44 inoperative whenit passes the intermediateposition. Y I

What we claim is: v

1: In an apparatus for testing the brakes of a'vehicle, thecombination of relatively movable supports for the jfront and rear ing-oneof said supports in opposite directionsgmeans for: automatically stopping said shifting mechanismat any one of a plurality of positions,means adjustable to anyone of a plurality of positions for starting said mechanism 'a'nd also for causing said'stop ping means to operate at one of said positions to stopthe travel of said movable supporta distance from the other supportcorresponding to agiven wheel base. i v

v2. In an apparatus for testing the brakes of a vehicle, the combination of relatively movable supports for the front and rear wheels otthe vehicle, mechanism for shifting one of said supports in opposite directions, means for automatically stopping said mechanism at any one of a plurality of positions, a plurality of devices separately operative for starting said mechanismand also for of "a cvehicle, the 1 combination of: relatively movable supports for; the front and. rear j 7 wheels, of the vehicle, .power' driven mecha-, #nlSll'l for. shifting one of 5 said supports in opgpos'ite; directions, andimeans for automatical- :ly'operati'ngsaid' mechanism toshift said 'isupporting means to any oneofa plurality stationary positionsiniorder to varygthe nee between'the'iront andrear wheel Supportsfinaccordance with: any one of-a plu-f prailityof:wheelbases. .7 1 V fl; In aniappar atus r'or testingthe brakes of a. vehicle, the com novable supports lor-the front and rear wheels of the vehicle, mechanism for shift mg one of said supports, means for driving 'said mechanism in either" direction,- and means for rendering saidfmechanisin inoperv ative atan-ygone of aqpli'irality .of predeter- T mm "d iposi-t'onsof sa'id movable support to I any the distances-betweensaid supports in f a plurality of I "accordance with any one o 'wlieelbaSeS: Q V i 5.? In an apparatus "for "testing the'brakes of ajveliicle, the cornbination of relatively Y 'inovable {supports for the, front. and rear "wheels fthe'vehi'cle, driving mechanism for foneof said supports, bl means for controlling said op saidinovable support at a igivenpointgie ntlVeitO the other support corrcspoi iding to a given-wheel base, 7

j --6. In an apparatus v for, testing the brakes f vehicle, the combination of relatively movable supports for wheel s of'the vehicle, power driven mecha' nil 'iormovingione arena supports in opiposiite irections,1=a control meinber, a series of stoj'pdevicesadapted-to be selectively actu- ,ated-by-tliecon-trol member to stop said mech- @said member and devices being relay y ovable, andmeans adjustable to'any atone;of-[aplurality of positions for'causing ntrolrinember to actuateany one of levices thereby to'stop the movable supphint a distance from the other suppending to aivgiven wheelbase;

an ga pparatus for testing the brakes o; 7 vehicle, ;=the combinationof relatively 'movable supports ,for the frontand rear 1 wheels of the vehicle, power driven mechanisin-forjmoving' pos' edirections,

a stationary control meni- -b WEBB-18S of stopdevices adapted to be sei lectively actuated by n; control member to stop said mec'hanism, and means; adjustable toanyone: eta plurality of positions for causing'saidycontrol member to actuate any devices thereby tocstop the mow --p,oint' a distance from :the spond ngtoa given wheel {one of said: able supper 1 ew afvehicle, the combination of relatively its ,fq fl g v front andi'rear plurality of positions givenxwheel base, a pluralityyof electrical circuits'to the motor, any one of the electrical circuitsfor shifting V Illlfl given direction,

zpleted circuit to stop port adistance "from respondingto a binatioirof relatively of a vehicle, th

wheels of the vehicle,

the front and rear j given wheelbase, a plurality one of said supports in opj {or testing the brakes:

wheels of the vehicle, mechanism including anelectric motor for shi'lting one of the supportsinfopposite directionsJto any one of a corresponding to a means for completing saidmovable support means for automatically opening said comthe travel of said supthe other support corgiven wheel base.- 7

r 9., In an apparatus for-.testingthe brakes e combination of relatively :tor the front and; rear mechanism including an electric motor for shifting one of the supports in opposite directions-to'any one of a plurality of positions corresponding to a given wheel base, a plurality of electrical circuits to the motonthe circuits to the motor having common portion including a switch for shifting said movable support in a given direction, means for completing'any one of the circuits, a cam controlling said switclrand adapted to open the same auto-c inatically to stop the travel of said support a distancefrom the other corresponding to a given vehicle wheel base.

10. In an apparatus iior'testing the brakes oiqa vehicle, the combination of relatively movableysuppor'ts for the "front and rear wheels of the vehicle, mechanism including an electric motor for shifting one of the supports in opposite directions-into any one of a plurality of positions corresponding to a of separate electrical circuits to the motorincluding a switch,

movable supports means for completing any one of theelectri-- V apluralityof positions corresponding to a given wheel base,a plurality of separate elect'rical circuitsto the motor including a switch, means for completi igany one of the circuits for shifting said movable support in given directiongeach ofsaid circuits having a common portion including a switch, a cam consaid :support a trolling said switchesr ;and adapted to open p distance from the-other sup- 7 :port corresponding to a given vehicle wheel base, said means including a drum switch adapted to render the,,carnfcontrolrof the switch in said common portion inoperative.

12. In an apparatus for testing the brakes of a vehicle, the combination of relatively movable supports for the front and rear Wheels of the vehicle, mechanism including an electric motor for shifting one of the supports in opposite directions into any one of a plurality of positions corresponding to a given Wheel base, a plurality of separate electrical circuits to the motor, means for completing any one of the circuits for shift- 5 ing said movable support in a given direction, means for automatically opening said completed circuit to stop the travel of said support a distance from the other support corresponding to a Wheel base, and means in each of said circuit-scontrolled by one of the others for rendering the circuit inoperative.

In an apparatus for testing the brakes of a vehicle, the combination of relatively movable supports for the front and rear Wheels of the vehicle, mechanism including an electric motor for shifting one of the supports in opposite directions into any one of a plurality of positions corresponding to a given Wheel base, a plurality of separate circuits to the motor, means for completing any one of the circuits for shifting said movable support in a given direction, means for automatically opening said completed circuit to stop the travel of said support a given distance from the other support corresponding to a given Wheel base, a brake, and means for rendering said brake inoperative when any one of said circuits is closed In testimony whereof We afiix our signatures.

RALPH- Z. HOPKINS. ALBERT E. FELLERS. GEORGE T. DAVEY. 

